As part of Illinois’ statewide population drop in 2017, southern Illinois counties saw a continuation of population losses they’ve been seeing for years.

If current population trends hold, Rock Island, Illinois, will take a back seat to Bettendorf, Iowa, within five years.

In a shrinking state, half of Illinois’ largest cities have shed population since 2010.

Madison and St. Clair counties both saw their populations decline from July 2016 to July 2017, thanks to outmigration – a problem the counties have been dealing with for years.

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area witnessed population decline over the year, as did nearly every other metro area in Illinois.

Policy failures have resulted in a steady stream of income flowing to neighboring states.